Community-based conservation is a proven methodology that ensures the effectiveness of protective measures in the sea. Local stewardship projects, in which communities are involved in the planning and establishment of marine preserves, have had resounding results in the waters of Australia, the Philippines, and Turkey. The cost-effectiveness, scalability, and resiliency of locally managed marine areas are desirable traits likened in East African states such as Tanzania, Mozambique, and Madagascar for they are preferable to the top-down government regulation of aquatic conservation—in which politicization of projects has often led to mismanagement of preserves. Even closer to Israel, community-oriented cooperation in the Mediterranean Sea is envisioned in the partnership of the MedPAN network.
As supported by the scientific community at large, passionate locals are an indispensable aspect of adequate marine preservation. The ultimate success of such conservation projects is why our campaign welcomes all walks of life to participate and voice their support for aquatic protection. With this objective, the Mediterranean People believes that local communities must be allies rather than alienated from the project for marine conservation to succeed. And with the Mediterranean People network, we are all allies with the sea regardless of our backgrounds.